Quarterback Damian Williams led Archbishop Rummel to the 5A state championship in Louisiana this season. (Maxpreps.com photo)

On the same day it lost one quarterback for 2013, Southern Miss picked up another.

New Orleans-area prospect Damian Williams verbally committed to the Golden Eagles on Wednesday night, according to reports by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Williams, from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, La., is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals, ESPN and 247 Sports, and a two-star by Scout.

Williams becomes the first quarterback commitment under new Southern Miss coach Todd Monken, the former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator who took over the Golden Eagles in December.

"Southern Miss and coach Monken called me
and let me know they wanted me to play quarterback for them," Williams told GoldenEaglePride.com. "... They said the offense would suit me well and that I'd have an
opportunity to be special in this offense."

Williams (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) also had scholarship offers from Utah State, Tulane and Florida International among other schools. He led Rummel to a 17-0 record and the 5A state championship in 2012, passing for 1,802 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 877 yards and 10 TDs.

Southern Miss has lost two scholarship quarterbacks in the last month, rising sophomore Anthony Alfordin December and junior Arsenio Favoron Wednesday.

The Golden Eagles now have 17 verbal commitments for 2013, including December signeesFred Moore and Devin Farrior, both offensive linemen.